McCarthyism and American Life

The mid-1950s marked the peak of America's "Red Scare," a widespread fear of Communism that culminated in the House Un-American Activities hearings, spearheaded by Senator Joseph McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin. In 1950, McCarthy informed President Harry Truman that the State Department was filled with Communists and their sympathizers. He also suspected that numerous Communists were employed in fields capable of swaying public opinion, such as the film and television industries. Over the ensuing years, McCarthy embarked on what was often termed a "witch hunt" to demonstrate the extent of Communist infiltration in American society. These hearings became popular televised events where he and others engaged in "Red-Baiting" the accused. Many entertainers and writers found themselves "blacklisted" (denied employment) for their minor Communist ties or for refusing to cooperate with what they perceived as McCarthy's unconstitutional tactics. The Soviet Union's 1956 invasion of Hungary further fueled McCarthy's fervor. McCarthy passed away in 1957, but not before being formally censured by the United States Senate for his hearings on supposed subversion within the U.S. Army.

Arthur Miller's The Crucible (1953) and Visit to a Small Planet both critique, albeit with a more comedic approach, the prevailing fear of Communism. During his newscast about the impending conflict with the Soviet Union, Roger Spelding warns, "[Soviet Premier] Nikita Krushchev and his gang" that "Mother-and-Father-America are ready." General Powers suspects Kreton of being an "alien spy" sent to the U.S. to "reconnoiter preparatory to invasion"; his suspicion of Kreton's origins serves as a metaphor for the red-baiting that took place during the McCarthy hearings. The paranoia among the characters, triggered by Kreton's visit, mirrors the widespread fear of a Communist invasion in 1950s America, which Kreton describes as "the wonderfully primitive assumption that all strangers are hostile."

Nuclear Weapons and Warfare

While nuclear power is now integrated into modern American life, this wasn't always the case. The first electric power generated from atomic energy was produced in Idaho in 1951, and the U.S. detonated its first hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific in 1952. At that time, nuclear power was unfamiliar and frightening to many Americans. However, atomic power was first utilized in the United States in Schenectady, New York, in 1955. Increasing concern over which countries had the knowledge and resources to create "the bomb" became a frequent topic for newscasters, writers, and citizens alike. Underground "bomb shelters" were also marketed to American homeowners wanting to protect themselves from the threat of a potential atomic attack.

Visit to a Small Planet highlights the increasing American anxiety about the potential for nuclear conflict. When Kreton successfully initiates a global war, General Powers cautions him, noting that the Russians "got the bomb, too." Kreton's response, "Oh, I hope so!" reveals his view of nuclear warfare as "exciting" and something to be thrilled about, which sharply contrasts with the fear surrounding such an event in the 1950s.

This fear is further emphasized by how Kreton instigates the war: he causes every rifle in the world to float momentarily, a prank that prompts the two superpowers to gear up for conflict. The notion that a war could begin over such a "minor" incident mirrors the widespread anxiety about "the button," which many Americans imagined could be pressed by a deranged foreign leader for a trivial reason. The underlying fear was that the lives of millions could be determined by the decisions of just one or two individuals.

Satire

"Satire" refers to any artistic creation that employs ridicule, humor, and wit to critique and inspire change in human behavior or societal institutions. Satirical elements can...

1950s: The American fear of Communism escalates, fueled by the U.S.S.R.'s 30-year alliance with Communist China in 1950, the invasion of South Korea by North Korea in 1950, the enactment of the McCarran Act imposing strict limitations on allowing Communists or those affiliated with totalitarian organizations into the United States, and the mid-decade McCarthy hearings aimed at exposing Communist infiltration across American society.

Today: Communism no longer holds significant global influence. The former Soviet Communist empire has fragmented into smaller nations, each with its own government. The Communist regime in East Germany dissolved with the reunification of East and West Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall. China remains the only major country still adhering to Communist ideologies.

1950s: Nuclear power emerges as a significant global and national issue; the United States tests the Hydrogen bomb in 1952, and atomic energy is first harnessed for electricity in 1955.

Today: Although the threat of nuclear catastrophe has diminished with the collapse of the Soviet Union, many politicians and leaders continue to advocate for increased disarmament. Nuclear power has become more integrated into American life, despite the 1979 Three Mile Island scare in Pennsylvania and the catastrophic 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union, which led to the evacuation of 133,000 people and widespread fallout across Europe.

1950s: Science fiction gains popularity as an art form, although often critically overlooked. This interest is initially sparked by Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation of H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, which incited public panic, and continues with Ray Bradbury's successful collection of stories, The Martian Chronicles, reflecting American fascination with extraterrestrial life.

Today: Science fiction is now a well-established genre for many authors and filmmakers. Writers like the late Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke enjoy widespread popularity, while films such as E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and the re-release of the Star Wars trilogy set box-office records. The X-Files, a TV series about FBI agents investigating alien phenomena and other mysteries, becomes a hit show, ironically tapping into the paranoia and government conspiracy themes prominent during the red-baiting 1950s.

1950s: Television becomes a pivotal influence in American political and social life. By 1955, there are 33.5 million TV sets in American homes, and in 1957, NBC airs the first videotaped national broadcast featuring the Eisenhower/Nixon inauguration.

Today: By 1995, American homes have 95.9 million television sets. Cable TV and satellite dishes offer a broader range of services, programming choices, and global news access. The American public increasingly demands immediate access to information, with live events like the O.J. Simpson murder trial being watched by millions worldwide.

Visit to a Small Planet was turned into a movie by Edmund Beloin and Henry Garson, featuring Jerry Lewis as Kreton. It was released by Paramount Pictures in 1960 and is available on video.

Further Reading

Contemporary Literary Criticism, Gale (Detroit), 1985, pages 402-12.
This critical overview offers insights into many of Vidal's works, discussing his background and his contributions across various genres.

Pemberton, William E. "Gore Vidal," in Magill's Survey of American Literature, Volume 6, Marshall Cavendish, pages 1998-2008.
This entry provides a comprehensive review of Vidal's career, offering critical analysis of his major literary works.

Sources

Atkinson, Brooks. Review of Visit to a Small Planet in the New York Times, February 8, 1957, page 18.

Salzman, Jack, editor. "Gore Vidal," in The Cambridge Handbook of American Literature, Cambridge University Press, page 248.

Thompson, Howard. Review of Visit to a Small Planet in the New York Times, April 14, 1960, page 34.